When an album flows this well you just know there’s skill and no small amount of inspiration coming from somewhere. There’s plenty to go on in the stoner-rock-meets-doom lineage is one of the longest in metal and surely too the influence of something mind-altering is never far away — if not from Istvan themselves then those who have directly influenced them. The band also attributes its high concept to an interest in mysticism, philosophy and obscure German poet and physicist Angelus Silesius (an avid supporter of the Catholic-led Counter Reformation of the 17th century – and if you were thinking that sounds like an odd choice to prop up your band’s high concept, I’d agree…!). The album begins with a spark provided by undistorted guitar chords before Istvan begin to exhale their 32 minute composition at you in such a way that you’ll be at the very least struggling to find a reason not to like this self-titled debut.
Istvan, the album, is more like a jamming session than a studio album. Bass rumblings and lead guitars speak to you through the billowing smoke of the 70s stoner buzz that munches down on a host of some of the finest names in metal. Take your pick from Black Sabbath, Earth, QOTSA and Russian Circles but Istvan behave like they’re the comfortable inheritors of the sound by effortlessly shifting their way through an ever changing landscape of sound that would be a must for the average stoner fan. When the vocals finally arrive halfway through the second track, usually a point in an album when I feel some relief, I don’t know whether to feel some shred of disappointment. The music alone provides such a level of balance that the vocals are almost not needed – and thankfully used sparingly and making a reprieve only towards the very end of the album.
The final two of the five tracks are the longest and provide the deepest explorations into the band’s most rock-laden furrows, progressive hinterlands and trippy highs. But still Istvan remain in fine balance – never getting too carried away, never delivering what you might describe as a straightforward track – always following their own meandering vibe. There is a risk with this kind of album: that you can feel like you’ve walked into someone else’s own private recording session. As cool, impressive and expressive as this kind of stuff is, it’s almost as if they’ve forgotten to bung a bit of something in to whet your appetitite and bring you back again for a second or third listening. I know I’m enjoying it when I listen to it, but afterwards I’m struggling to pick it out from a host of other progressive stoner musings I’ve encountered in recent years. Istvan is good and solid while it lasts and obviously a talented band. But it occupies the middle ground too much for me when perhaps it should be stretching the boundaries altogether.
(7/10 Reverend Darkstanley)
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